Tuesday, October 24, 2006

There was the 80-year old with CHF and hepatic congestion. Do they make liver sudafed because we need to decongest that bad boy!? NewFNP is decongesting that old liver and treating the CHF with good old-fashioned furosemide, which should really improve her urinary incontinence. Sorry about that.

Then there was the lady who was adamant that newFNP had not refilled her Relpax last month. NewFNP remembers the conversation in which she said that she would refill it. NewFNP wrote in the chart that she refilled it, but did newFNP hand the medicine to the patient herself? No, she did not. That responsibility falls to our dispensary clerk, who is sweet yet lacks a certain something - let's call it IQ/ability to multi-task/grace under pressure. It is not out of the realm of possibility to think that newFNP's patient perhaps did not receive her medications. However, newFNP has to trust herself and her employees and, thus, did not refill the med. NewFNP's patient was practically homicidal. It was not an enjoyable experience. Yes, newFNP knows that you are not stupid. Of course, newFNP appreciates that you are not a liar. Yes, newFNP understands that you would like her to supervise every interaction that occurs between all staff members and patients of the clinic. Sadly, newFNP has 29 other patients to see. NewFNP apologized, of course, but our relationship is damaged.

NewFNP hasn't had too many patients get mad at her. It was a drag, but newFNP had to stick by her staff because there was no clear mistake. The documentation stated that the patient received the medication. Bummer.

In other news, apparently the power of the blog is beyond what newFNP imagined. After posting that she hadn't heard from clinic B, newFNP received an e-mail asking her to interview... this Thursday at 9AM. This e-mail came in one week after newFNP's e-mail went out. How about some advanced notice for schedule clearing purposes? We'll see. We'll see.

And finally, check out this article on slate.com about antibiotic resistance.http://www.slate.com/id/2152118/Not a day goes by during which newFNP does not chastise a patient about antibiotic misuse. Come on people! Get with the program!

Monday, October 23, 2006

After being sought out via e-mail to interview at community health clinic B, newFNP replied to said clinic's Assistant Medical Director using the same medium, stating that she would love to interview, knows of the great work clinic B does, etc, etc.

That was a week ago. Nothing. Is newFNP P.N.G. at clinic B without even knowing it?

Oh well. NewFNP hears that community health clinic B pays shit, so that wouldn't work anyway. Since graduating, newFNP has noticed that many of her conversations with her late 20's/early 30-something friends focus on paying off debt, saving for a down payment, paying off private loans super-ASAP, how the fuck anyone ever buys a house, etc. Therefore, newFNP certainly cannot earn less than what she now earns. Seriously, newFNP still drives the same piece of dump she drove in grad school and rents an apartment.

So screw you clinic B! NewFNP will make the most of clinic A for now. At least she has some good stories to share.

Monday, October 16, 2006

As many of you know, newFNP has been experiencing distress at her place of employment as of late. This distress led newFNP to forward her CV to two of her public health type colleagues who are, as they say, connected.

And now newFNP has a job interview at the Cadillac of community health clinics.

Here is the conundrum. There is never a *good* time to change jobs. There are times that are worse than others. For example, newFNP has a three-week vacation planned in February. Is it a bad thing to say, "Oh, and BTW, I'm going to need to take February off. Problem with that?" NewFNP thinks that is not ideal. Secondly, newFNP let her CPR certification lapse. Fucking hell because now newFNP has to sit in that MF-ing course all over again. Double fucking hell because it looks flat out bad to let such a thing lapse when applying for new employment. Thirdly, newFNP's clinic just lost a provider - no big shock. This does, however, cause extra stress on the existing staff.

Finally, newFNP really likes and respects the MD with whom she works. NewFNP will need to excuse herself from work for a half-day to attend said interview. NewFNP wants to tell her MD, but doesn't want her MD to think she is a big ship-jumping a-hole. Ay ay ay. And newFNP is not even sure that she wants to leave her fucked up community health clinic for a more posh community health clinic. This posh clinic is at least 15 minutes further from newFNP's new apartment and, in newFNP's city, that could be a real problem.

Friday, October 13, 2006

Oh, has it ever been rough in newFNP land. NewFNP has had nothing good to say about work. No funny stories, no frustrating patients. Wait, did newFNP just write that? Of course there have been frustrating patients! But newFNP has been too discouraged to share them with anyone.

You see, newFNP's Board of Director's voted down all of the clinic employee raises. NewFNP's clinic manager continues to jam the clinic with too many patients. NewFNP had a size large bloody speculum fly out of a vagina at her yesterday (lesson: no matter what - hold onto the speculum). Oh, the velocity!

In short, newFNP feel overwhelmed and underappreciated. Maybe newFNP has too many entitlement issues. Maybe she should look at her job as just that - a job.

But that is *not* how newFNP sees her role. NewFNP is not a telemarketer. She has chosen a career that values humanity and that seeks to promote wellness. NewFNP wants the agency for whom she works to value her in kind.

And newFNP can't stress it enough, but she needs cute shoes and some new Joe's Jeans!

This blog is for new NPs or NP students who want some real 411 on the life of a new practitioner. A new practitioner in a busy, understaffed, urban community health clinic in a major metropolitan area. Oh, and newFNP swears while writing and, sometimes, while working although she tries to keep those swears to herself. Consider yourself warned.